» It's media day today in New Orleans, the Super Bowl's annual exercise of the absurd. In the tradition of a reporter asking Redskins quarterback Doug Williams before Super Bowl XXII in 1988 how long had he been a black quarterback, who today might ask, "So, Jim Harbaugh, exactly how long have you known your brother, John?"

» Kathy Ensor, a member of the American Statistical Association and the statistics department chair at Rice University, has calculated the odds of brothers coaching against each other in the Super Bowl at 1 in 255 when the brothers are head coaches in different conferences of the National Football League.

» The 49ers and Ravens are similar in many ways, making their matchup intriguing and difficult to call. Both teams play a physical style of football. Both teams have a marquee running back and good receivers. Both defenses are stout. The head coaches are from the same family. Even the culinary specialty of each city is similar: San Francisco, dungeness crab; Baltimore, blue crab.

» I'd rather see Frank Gore and Patrick Willis celebrate on the field at the Superdome Sunday night rather than Ray Lewis.

» If that really was Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's voice on those phone messages for former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, the ex-Franklin High quarterback, who will appear on Dr. Phil on Thursday and Friday, should be cast for remakes of the Crying Game, Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire.

» A reader commented on an Internet story related to Doug Martin, calling the Buccaneers' running back, who caught a touchdown pass in the Pro Bowl on Sunday, Douggernaut. Appropriate, considering Martin is a candidate for NFL rookie of the year after rushing for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns.

» Today marks the 18th anniversary of the 49ers' victory over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. Great memory for the Niners. Not so great for the Chargers. Neither team had made it back to the big game before San Francisco did this season.

» Andrew Bogut's return to the Warriors' lineup is the shot in the arm the team desperately needs. They can only hope the big guy stays healthy.

» Before Monday's win in Washington, the Kings looked like a distracted team in limbo due to the swirling talk about the team's possible sale and move to Seattle. Rumor has it the team will be actively selling at the trading deadline.